Title: Information Behavior

Course Number: INF 7500

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): INF 6010/6000.

Rationale for Inclusion in Curriculum:

Information behavior encompasses the diverse ways individuals interact with and seek information from various sources and channels. This includes understanding information needs, recognizing barriers to access, exploring information-seeking processes, and evaluating information use across different cultural, linguistic, and accessibility contexts. Understanding these interactions, especially how technology mediates them, is crucial for delivering equitable and meaningful services to users and for designing inclusive, user-centered information systems.

This course explores how people from various backgrounds recognize and address their information needs, the actions they take in resolving those needs, and the pivotal role of information professionals in supporting these actions. It delves into the diverse ways information is used and disseminated within different communities. Students will gain essential knowledge applicable to future careers in areas such as library services, human-computer interaction (HCI), information retrieval, and inclusive systems design.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Recognize and appreciate the diverse range of information behaviors exhibited by individuals across various identifiers, backgrounds and contexts.
2. Identify and analyze challenges related to the discovery and exploration of information sources, taking into account diverse patterns of information-seeking behavior.
3. Demonstrate awareness and respect for individual differences, advocating for inclusive design and accommodations within information systems and services.
4. Critically evaluate and creatively address how different factors influence how people seek, find and use information.
5. Apply inclusive design principles and culturally responsive practices to the development or enhancement of information sources, services, and systems, ensuring equitable access and usability for all users.

Content:

The following topics will be covered in this course:

• Defining information;
• Identifying and analyzing information needs
• Recognizing barriers
• Information seeking process
• Information seeking methods and sources
• Information retrieval
• Information behavior in different contexts
• Information behavior of various types of users
• Assessing the value and relevance of information
• Information dissemination
• User-centered design of information products, systems, and services

Course Methodology:

The course delivery methodology will include:

1. Lectures
2. Readings
3. Class discussions
4. Field work
    

Basis for Evaluation of Student Performance:

• Class participation
• Assignments applying the concepts covered in the class
• Papers
   

Text: Journal articles and book chapters

Updated: 04/24